leadership

Thomas J. Freeman, Architect - Principal

Thomas J. Freeman studied construction and structural engineering at New York State University at Alfred, New York and graduated with a degree in Construction Technology in 1964.

Thomas Freeman holds Architectural Registrations in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York. He is also certified by the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards. He is a past member of the Construction Specifications Institute, past officer of the Northwest Chapter of the Pennsylvania Society of Architects, past board member of the Greater Erie YMCA, a Director of The Erie Chapter of Sertoma and presently a member of the Erie Rotary Club. Mr. Freeman has taught as an adjunct instructor in the Interior Design Department at Mercyhurst College.

In 1981 Mr. Freeman established his own Architectural Design Practice. Project types include commercial, residential, industrial facilities, multi-family housing and health care. A synopsis of Mr. Freeman's accomplishments is contained in the following Professional History.

Thomas J. Freeman has successfully completed numerous Commercial and Industrial projects. His design of The Village West shopping complex won a prestigious award. He has been commissioned by Commercial and Industrial Companies who required buildings to meet special technical and structural needs. Included in these are Lord Corporation, Microbac Laboratories, Johnson Controls, Inc., Great Lakes Case and Cabinet Company and Northwest Industries. His interest and involvement in the development of the Erie area is shown through his completed projects.

Mr. Freeman is co-founder and partner in Keystone Development Associates. This development company was founded for the primary purpose of creating affordable housing in the center city Erie area for lower income and special needs tenants.

Mr. Freeman began his career as a Designer Draftsman in the office of Sargent Webster Crenshaw and Folley Architect and Engineers, a multi-faceted, one hundred fifty (150) man firm. He was involved in the design and construction of many large educational facilities in northern New York State.

In 1967 Mr. Freeman relocated to Erie, Pennsylvania where he worked for several architectural design firms. He was named Project Captain responsible for project coordination with clients and consulting engineers and production of construction drawings, specifications and construction supervision. His partial project experience here is: Zurn Science Center and Finnagan Hall Dormitory at Gannon University, Robinson Connor Insurance Company, Erie Autoclave, Arthur F. Schultz Company, 1100 State Street Building, and the Ike Levick Retail Store and Office Complex.

In 1973 Mr. Freeman was named Office Manager and Project Architect for Richard M. Sweitzer Architect, Towanda, Pennsylvania. He was responsible for overseeing the production of construction drawings, specifications, design and staffing for two offices. He was also Project Architect on selected projects.

In 1979 Mr. Freeman returned to Erie, Pennsylvania as a Project Architect for a local architectural design firm. He assisted in the construction drawings for the Erie Civic Center Complex and was Project Architect for the renovation of the Warner Theater and the Exhibition Hall (old Sears Building). Other projects included numerous energy audits and assistance to clients in obtaining government grants.

Adam J. Trott, AIA - Principal

Adam J. Trott studied architectural design at Penn State University and graduated with a B.S. in Architecture in 1984.

Mr. Trott joined Thomas J. Freeman Architect in the summer of 2000. He became a partner in January of 2005 and continues to work as Project Designer and Manager. Completed projects include a wide variety of types including commercial, health care, credit unions, banks, County Club renovations, municipal garages, day care facility, multi-family housing and many others.

Other activities include membership in the American Institute of Architects, Past President of the Erie Kiwanis Club, Past President of the St. James School Board, Penn State Alumni Association - Life Member, and Alpha Rho Chi National Architectural Fraternity.

Mr. Trott began his career as a Drafter / Graphic Designer at Executive Office Concepts (a contract furniture manufacturer) in Compton, California. He was in charge of shop drawings, installation drawings, marketing literature, catalog layouts and answering technical questions from clients.

In 1985 Mr. Trott relocated to Boston, Massachusetts, where he took a position in the Facility Planning Department of the Bank of Boston, a corporate bank with over 33 billion dollars in assets. His responsibilities included design and project management of relocated departments within the bank’s various facilities. In 1988, Mr. Trott was hired from the Bank of Boston by Hohenschau Associates, an architectural firm in Boston, and became a project designer for many corporate clients including A T & T, John Hancock, Federal Express, Bank of Boston and Bank of New England. Mr. Trott’s projects were located in various areas along the upper Eastern seaboard from Manchester, NH down to the Philadelphia area. His duties would include design and project management. Mr. Trott also pursued professional development courses while in Boston including Construction Law at Northeastern University, along with Project Management and Design of Livable Cities at Harvard University.

Mr. Trott returned to his hometown of Erie, Pennsylvania in 1990, where he joined the architectural firm of Weibel Rydzewski Schuster. Mr. Trott worked on a wide variety of project types, with a large portion involving renovation projects at Country Clubs and Hospitals. These project types were heavy in hospitality and health care design, and all the issues relative to these kinds of projects including accessibility issues. Other project types included a juvenile detention facility renovation, a University classroom building and a Water Authority garage. Mr. Trott acquired his Architectural Registration from New York in 1994.

Mr. Trott moved to the architectural firm of Creal Hyde Larson, in Warren, Pennsylvania, in 1996. Mr. Trott’s greatest effort here was spent as Project Architect on many large scale multi-family developments in Eastern Illinois near Chicago. Mr. Trott designed and guided projects through the preliminary design phases and municipal approvals in many communities including Lake Villa, Woodstock, Naperville and Yorktown. Mr. Trott then returned to Weibel Rydzewski Schuster in 1997, and continued working there until 2000, when he moved to Thomas J. Freeman Architect PC.